Politics

The Ninth Cabinet: A record of achievement in the face of crises 2 years later

2021-07-10 10:36

The Ninth Cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government was formed in July 2019. (Photo: KRG)

Kurdistan Kurdistan Masrour Barzani Krg Ninth cabinet

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On July 10, 2019, the Kurdistan Parliament gave its confidence to the government of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to form the ninth ministerial lineup in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s history.

Two years later, citizens say that they have seen clear achievements, especially in urban and infrastructure projects, despite the many crises facing the government.

Service During a Time of Crises

The ninth cabinet has faced many problems, most prominently the financial crises after Baghdad cut off the Kurdistan Region’s share of the federal budget, and the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent collapse in global oil prices.

Despite constraints, the government has been able to build new bridges and roads, undertake urban projects, open factories and grain silos, and lay the foundation for other strategic projects. It was also able to balance relations with Kurdistan’s neighbors and the international community as a whole.

Despite inheriting and facing new problems, the cabinet has strengthened the autonomous Kurdistan Region’s position and made it a reliable ally for its friends as well as an economic gateway into Iraq.

Since assuming power, Masrour Barzani has taken steps to achieve promised reforms while stressing that an overhaul cannot happen overnight but is rather a long-term process that needs to include all government institutions without exception.

Mukhlis Salim Murad, Director-General of Legal and Administrative at the Investment Authority, told Kurdistan 24 that the KRG’s current investment projects will provide 50,000 job opportunities.

Since its formation a decade ago, the Investment Authority has granted 1,126 licenses at a value of $16 billion, according to Murad.

Ambitious Programs

The ninth cabinet has not deviated from its goals and ambitious program of work, from politics to the economy and culture to education.

It also focused on enhancing the culture of coexistence enjoyed by Kurds and others in the region, which is home to people of many different nationalities and religious sects.

The premier has stressed that the Kurdistan Region is a home for the displaced, and that its gates are open to anyone seeking safety.

Diversifying Revenue Sources and Attracting Investment

With the recent rise in oil prices and the government's efforts to diversify income sources, the Kurdistan Region is heading to recovery as it enters a new phase of economic development.

The Kurdistan Region Investment Authority has approved hundreds of major strategic projects as part of the transition to an economy that is not dependent on oil.

Like the federal government in Baghdad, the Kurdish government still relies on oil to cover the majority of public expenditures and project financing.

But the regional government says that it is making every effort to upgrade the agricultural and industrial sector, which contributes to strengthening the economy and maximizing imports. The cabinet also wants to create a region that is open and attractive to both domestic and foreign investors.

Prime Minister Barzani has repeatedly said crises will not stop the government’s program and plans to create sustainable infrastructure and service projects to benefit the people of Kurdistan.

The government also stood firmly against attempts to undermine the Kurdistan Region’s security and defended regional autonomy in the framework of the Iraqi constitution.

Faris Issa, the KRG representative in Baghdad, says that the reform project initiated by the ninth cabinet preserved the region.

But the current cabinet strives to be more open with the regional parliament than its predecessors, particularly in its dealings with the federal government and transparent in its negotiations with Baghdad.

Mustafa Shilani ,